garten’s memoir, You are ready when luck strikeshe completely changed my life. Take life, sprinkled with good pain groups, good friends, and delicious food, inspired my resolution for the New Year 2025 to save my loved ones once a month. I had never hosted a bachelorette party before January, but I was willing to invite my friends consistently because of the catch, the festivities and the devil convos over cocktails and cheese boards. Any excuse to get off my phone and create a real connection was the goal. As we come to the end of the year, I am proud to say that I have kept my promise to myself. I’m due for a dozen cozy gatherings since January! Prioritizing my offline community has been a joy, and now I have a group of relatives to host a group to take with me as we head into the holiday season.
The hosting season is often associated with Thanksgiving celebrations and Christmas meals, which, let’s be real, can add more stress and anxiety. With all of my 2025 gatherings under my belt, I’m happy to participate in that once-a-month activity that leaves my perspective on holiday hosting. Ahead, here are a few hosting lessons I’m taking with me in the final months of the year.
Handling is a habit
As a perfectionist, I initially recoiled from hosting. I thought my house wasn’t big enough, that I didn’t cook enough, and that my friends definitely didn’t like coming over. Talk about handling anxiety! All three of these things were not true, but this mindset can prevent you from creating anything new, including hosting. Gathering is a habit.
The first time I invited friends over for dinner, I was a bundle of nerves. I wanted everything to go well, but I had to remind myself that this was my first time. Of course, I was a little nervous! Over time, the nerves dissipated and turned into excitement. I just need a few groups of confusion under my belt to rest on.
The act of gathering regularly has improved my self-esteem, restored my perfectionism, and deepened my sense of community. Whether you’re giving thanks for the first time, or the hundredth time, remember to meet yourself where you are.
Your guests are everything
It’s not about what’s on the table, it’s about who’s around. Social Media can make it seem like hosting is all about how beautiful your tables are, or how beautiful the dishes are, or how delicious the cocktails are. I’ll be the first to admit that I am love The aesthetic aspects of table hosting are my thing it’s rich. But I always do my best to make the most important thing the most important thing – visitors. Hosting is all about gathering and connecting with your loved ones. Make a circle about keeping you and your friends comfortable, happy and well-fed.
I love having a welcome drink ready to go as soon as guests walk through the door. Have an appetizer set on the table before the guests arrive and clear the spears where to set their coats and shoes. Your mood as the host sets the tone, so make sure you take a moment to relax before the guests arrive. Sharing space (and food!) creates connections that social media can’t replicate. Make sure you are in the company of your loved ones.
Start small
Dywanena parties don’t have to be big news. Keeping things small creates more intimacy that may be preferred, especially if you are an introvert. The holiday hosting season can feel like the bigger the better – there’s so much to do, see, and plan! But if you’re a first-time owner, or maybe you’re ready to downsize, it’s more than okay to start small. All my gatherings this year were four to six people at a time, and they were perfect. But if large gatherings are what you like, give yourself permission to work on them.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Hosting has been a great gift for me this year. Setting up Solo was a little intimidating, especially when I first got to grips with it. But organizing a group with a friend takes the pressure off. Plus, it might be more fun! If you have an idea for a dinner party, but don’t want to organize it yourself, consider asking a friend to join you. That way, you’ll have someone to bounce ideas off of, and you can split the cost and workload. The same goes for hosting the holidays! Hosting a reunion or holiday fundraiser is so fun.
Use what you have
Building my hosting arsenal this year has been a lot of fun – my plates and bowls are a mix of vintage items, family heirlooms and new items. While it’s tempting to overdo it with themed food and decor – having a collection of items is essential. I live in a city with little storage space, so keeping things simple is both more cost-effective and less stressful. If you have the budget and space for what’s on offer (and it brings you joy!) then by all means! But I found using what I did made my circles easier, easier to throw together and cozy all the same.
In general, the real host does not have seasonal gatherings with loved ones offline and in person can (and should!) be done throughout the year. Whether you’re inviting a few friends over for coffee, or you’re ready to plan a 5-course meal, think of this sign for you to gather with your friends and family!